Wat Borom Phuttharam

The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya indicate that in 1689, before his succession to the throne, King Phetracha ordered the construction of Wat Borom Phuttharam in his hometown of Pa Tong District. The layout of the site consists of the ubosot, wihan, sermon hall and dwellings for the monks. Glazed yellow tiles crafted by Muen Chantharat were used on the roofs of the ubosot, wihan and sermon hall. After the construction that took 2 years to complete, this royal temple was named “Wat Borom Phuttharam” and was celebrated for 3 days and nights.

The temple is sometimes called Wat Krabueang Khlueap “The Glazed Tiles Temple” for its unusual roofs.

Almost 300 years later in 1956, the Fine Arts Department discovered a garuda and figure of a deva of greenish-yellow glazed ceramics that are believed to have been used as decorations on the chedis at the entrance of the ubosot. Similar decorations have been found at other historic sites; such as, the similarly coloured ceramics of the chedi at Wat Thammikkarat, yellow glazed tiles next to the ubosot at Wat Kudi Dao and the glazed Khun Phaen votive tablets from the crypt inside the chedi of Wat Yai Chai Monkhon.

King Borommakot ordered the renovation of this temple with new doors added to the ubosot. Currently, one pair of the doors is at the scripture library at the Royal Monastery of the Emerald Buddha. Another pair is at Wat Benchamabophit. The last set was made into a book cabinet owned by HRH Krom Phra Nakhon Sawan Woraphinit and was given to the National Museum. These are considered exquisite works of mother-of-pearl inlaid skills.

Though now deserted, there are many interesting details to view; such as, the brick and mortar ubosot with front and rear doors decorated with Phra Chulamani stucco, windows found in every room and the base arches built in the late Ayutthayan style.

The ubosot faces to the North, while the East side of the temple is adjacent to the Chakrai Noi River, which in the past served as a significant trading area with markets on both land and water. The limited space might be the reason the temple was not positioned on the East-West lines, as is traditionally preferred.

Apart from the ubosot, the two squared chedis serve as evidence of the importance of this temple in the past, and for new generations to admire.